Math Clinic

The Math Clinic is up and running!  For those who are new to this, the Math Clinic is a safe place to take all of your math problems, concerns, anxieties, and phobias.  Here, you'll find math peer tutors available to take care of the entirety of your math needs, all under the supervision of Mr. Marzouk.  The Math Clinic is open during Mondays and Thursdays during lunchtime in A207.  Drop by to get your math conundrums answered, or just go see what Mr. Marzouk is having for lunch (he's been banned from the staffroom during lunchtime because he keeps heating fish in the microwave).   

Math Contests

It's math contest time!  If you are interested in punishing challenging yourself this year by writing a math contest, then please complete this application form and return it, along with the deposit, to me or to Mr. Marzouk in A207 by October 1.  The deposit will be returned to you in full if you show up to write ALL of the math contests that you have signed up for.  Marzouk's rules.

The first math contest will be the Canadian National Math League contest on October 15.  This contest is for all grades.

The Road to Success

We've been back to school for seven days and it appears everyone has fully reverted back to "school-mode".  It's the time of fresh beginnings and endless potential.  The path to a successful school year starts with developing good habits now.  This means:

1. Attending class regularly.  Easy now, but much harder in the middle of February when its cold and dark out, you're exhausted, and SOOOOO many assignments due on the same day!  Be strong.  Poor attendance is the single greatest reason why students fail a course.
2. Focusing in class.  Keeping your phone in your bag is a great help, but you also need to actually pay attention.  Yes, it can be boring and the math may seem pointless (you're not wrong...I'll save that for another day), but to learn, you must engage in the lesson.  Somebody out there believes this is good for you.
3. Trying the practice.  Math is skill-based.  This means the best way to learn it is through practice and repetition.  And remember that practice is low-stakes.  It's okay to make mistakes and not understand.  Nobody's judging you based on practice.  It's there to inform you that you may or may not understand something fully or correctly, and whether you should seek help.  Which leads to the next point...
4. Asking for help.  It's harder for some than others, but, in my opinion, the single most valuable skill you can learn in school is asking for help (it's most certainly not math).  If you're not sure about asking in class, please come by during flex time or after school.  No question is too small.  When you walk away with a better understanding, everyone wins.

Math may not be your thing, but if you do these things consistently throughout the school year, you will be putting yourself in an excellent position to succeed.

Have an awesome school year!  😎

Welcome Back!

I hope you've has a fun and relaxing summer.  Welcome to a new school year!